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“I know you say that anyone could do it, if one starts with a young animal, and that may be true, but people don’t know that They can only see it as so not natural to this world, so it must come from another world, from the spirit world I am frankly amazed at hoell they have accepted the animals, but it is an uneasy acceptance It will take riht that no one has seen before People don’t know you yet, Ayla I’m sure people ant to use the firestone, once they’ve seen hoorks, but they may be afraid of it I think it has to be seen as a Gift from the Mother, which can be done if it is first understood and accepted by the zelandonia, and presented with the proper ritual,” the donier said

The way she explained it seeical, but in a quiet space in her own mind, it made Ayla realize how persuasive Zelandoni could be “When you explain it like that, I understand,” Ayla said “Of course I will show the zelandonia how the firestone works, and help you hatever ritual you feel is necessary”

They joined Jondalar’s family and so with a few people from other Caves After the meal, Zelandoni took Ayla aside “Can you leave the wolf outside the lodge for a while? I think it’s i, and I’m afraid Wolf would be a distraction,” she said

“I’ to look at hiot up to leave, she told Wolf to stay with hih they were not noticed by ht, which h many lamps were lit Her eyes adjusted quickly, but when the First stood up to begin speaking, the Zelandoni of the Fourteenth Cave objected

“Why is she here?” the Fourteenth said “She may be a Zelandonii woman, but she is not zelandonia She is an outsider and does not belong at this ”

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The One Who Was First Ah of frustration She was not going to make any obvious display of her irritation and let the tall, thin Zelandoni of the Fourteenth Cave have the satisfaction of knowing how ht frowns and disapproving looks from some of the other Zelandonia, and a s front teeth

“You are right, Zelandoni of the Fourteenth,” the First said “Outsiders, those who are not part of the zelandonia, are not usually invited to theseof those who have had some experience with the world of the spirits, the ones who have been called, and the acolytes, who have shown pro That’s why I have invited Ayla You know that she is a healer She was a great help to Shevonar, thethe last community hunt,” the donier said

“Shevonar died, and I don’t kno much help she was, I didn’t examine him,” the Fourteenth said “There are e of certain medicinals Almost everyone knows aboutbark and its ability to stop the pain of minor aches, for example”

“I assure you that she knows a great deal more than the uses ofbark,” the One Who Was First said “One of her nahter of the Mammoth Hearth The Mammoth Hearth of the Mamutoi is the same as the zelandonia, they are Those Who Serve The Mother”

“Are you saying she’s a Zelandoni of the Mamutoi? Where is her tattoo?” The question was asked by an elderly woent eyes

“Her tattoo, Zelandoni of the Nineteenth?” the large woht, what did the Nineteenth know that she didn’t? She was an experienced and reliable Zelandoni, who had learned a great deal in her long life It was a sha the past years The ti near when she would not be able to walk to the Su were not near the Nineteenth Cave, she ht not have made it this year

“I know of the Mamutoi Jerika of the Lanzadonii lived with the with her mother and the m

an of her hearth on their long Journey One sunant with Joplaya, she was having some trouble and I attended her She told me about the Mamutoi Their doniers are also h not quite like ours, but if Ayla is the same as a Zelandoni, where is her tattoo?”

“She was in training, but not fully trained when she left to come here with Jondalar She is not the same as a Zelandoni, she isthan most In addition she was adopted to the Mammoth Hearth by the Mamut Who Was First, because he saw her potential,” the First said